Come all you north americans and europeans, come and get a ride on the most elegant boat of all and one of the oldest that is still operating in its original area. p.s. you will not need any ear defenders as the engine is silent. We would be willing to make coffee, (at least while roger is busy talk...

This website is to show the steamboat Shamrock, which is now owned by a group of trustees. The boat was badly damaged during floods in 2009 and has since been repaired.

http://www.shamrocktrust.org.uk

Peter, superwool blok 607 is the stuff available from PMR precision merseyside. www.pmrinsulation.co.uk The blanket is probably also available here, I use it with some stainless steel mesh on the inside, see www. meshuk.co.uk 1inch sq x 1.6mm my boiler is similar but the casing was made using two fl...

Ref the valve in the pics, I could be wrong but I would suggest this is not strictly a "balanced valve" as we know it but a Andrews & Cameron valve sometimes known as a "matchbox" valve, it functions rather like a flat piston valve needs setting up properly but should work well.

Best regards
Jack

I have replied direct to Mr Dudley on this matter. Will post anything of interest which it throws up.

regards
Jack

Jorgen, Ref the slow speed pumps open ended, these were usually air pumps (condensate) with the feed pumps driven off the crosshead, but its difficult to tell from the pic. That is an unusual engine. Ref scotch yokes, they are fine if made properly, the clearance on the pin bearings is critical as i...

Jorgen I tried to e mail him a few months ago with a view to getting castings, but got no reply, I had a possible customer for an engine this size in the UK, I would perhaps have a slot to build another?? next year?? Alternative. have a look at the UK engine "Leek compound" the larger one is 5 & 7 b...

I don't think using old automotive parts is the way to go with toothed belts. Industrial tooth belts components are not that expensive in UK they can be obtained from Fenner I dare say there is a similar outfit in the US, maybe Graingers or similar. Go for the High Torque drive type with rounded tee...

Anything containing a fluid under pressure can explode! its just with a small diameter tube the strength is so much greater for a given pressure. The main safety from injury with a monotube system is also however due to the low volume of contents. Assuming a conventional boiler there is two things t...

For a start "babbit" means a white metal alloy so use of aluminium wouldn't be babbiting. High grade aluminium alloys are used for forged conn rods of some I.C. engines but that is with full dynamic lubrication, I doubt if it would be any good on a steam engine with boundary lube conditions. maltele...